General Life Update...What's been going on?!

I realize that I haven't been keeping y'all simply up to date on the happenings of this semester so I thought that I'd take the time to touch on some of those things.

AACAQ

Ask a Catholic a Question (AACAQ) is a St. Mary's student-led outreach group that evangelizes on campus. It existed my freshman and sophomore year when I first participated in it but had since lapsed into a deep slumber. However, this year, thanks to the effort of a couple of dedicated students and the campus minister that harbored the original ideas for this organization, it has resurrected and made its presence known once again. The group consists of 12 members (appropriate no?) this semester with the idea of growth in the future.
Practically speaking, we go out on campus in no less than two wearing shirts that say "I am Catholic. Ask me why." in hopes of spreading the truth of Jesus Christ and His Church. This can manifest itself in several different ways depending on the Spirit's desire any particular day. We may be approached by someone or we may approach them.
Honestly, it can be difficult for me to approach someone to talk about God and the faith. I am sort of embarrassed and silly admitting this especially since I feel called to join a religious community whose charism is precisely evangelization and spiritual formation. However, it is a fact of my nature which is introverted at its most base form. Does this mean that I am unable to fulfil the mission of AACAQ or the Apostles? No. I can do anything with the help of God's grace. Does this mean that I will have to die to self and put myself out there in ways that for me may feel uncomfortable or awkward at first. You betcha!
An important aspect of evangelization is the personal encounter with Christ. The more that I encounter Christ in my own personal prayer, the more I grow in my desire to help others to know Him the way I know Him. And the more that I surrender to the Spirit when I am speaking His Name, the less nervous or fearful I am that I will say something wrong or not know an answer. These things will most certainly occur because I am human but the more open I am to the Holy Spirit, the more often that I will recognize Him speaking through even my broken humanity.
Chris, my evangelization partner, and I have similar hesitancies about approaching students on campus but have also both reaped the benefits of dying to self and courageously doing it anyways. Last Monday (during our hour commitment 12-1pm) we did just this in Academic Plaza to two different groups. Both times we ended up having beautiful conversations and sharing an aspect of the Catholic faith that was misunderstood or unknown by the other (i.e. Mary as an intercessor and confession).
Each Monday I nervously put on my "provocative" tshirt and am struck by a moment of dread at the thought of that fast approaching hour. And then I go to prayer (my start to each day) and I am blown away by the love of a God Incarnate who was not ashamed in all His divinity to take on the lowly flesh of my broken humanity and die upon a cross to save me from my sin so that He can spend eternity with me. I encounter a Person who is the only Source of the indescribable and unmatchable underlying peace and joy in my heart - the joy and peace of knowing that I am loved and that my life is in the capable Hands of the King of the Universe and my Good Shepherd. The nerves don't all run away at that moment but the conviction that God wants to use me as an instrument in spreading the Good News that this is true for each and every individual takes hold of my heart and the Lord's rod and staff give me courage.
We are all called to evangelize regardless of where we are or what our shirts say. Let us pray for the grace to do so in whatever way God is calling us to in our lives at this moment.

Jesus Is Lord

This lent, St. Mary's offered a parish wide program called Jesus Is Lord. Originally created by St. William's parish in Round Rock, this program seeks to bring its participants back to the foundation of Jesus as Lord of their lives. It is built on the premise that any and all theological knowledge or biblical analysis that we have means nothing if Jesus is not the Lord of our lives. Those things are there to build up and increase our relationship with Him who sits on the throne of our hearts.
During Jesus is Lord, the 600+ participants (both students and permanent parishioners) journeyed through several specific topics: God is Love, Human Sin, Jesus our Savior, Repentance, Discipleship. Each night consisted of 2 short talks by 2 campus ministers and 1 witness talk by a student or permanent parishioner. Then the group broke into 83 small groups to further discuss and share. I enjoyed the privilege of leading one of these small groups and growing with these 8 individuals throughout lent.
There was one talk that struck me (and many others) and will always be that which I remember the most from Jesus is Lord. It was given by Fr. David our pastor on the topic of Human Sin. He spoke about the cost of Jesus's sacrifice on the cross imploring us to see the crucifix for what it is when we enter a Catholic Church and behold it. He had us consider the great sin needed to accumulate such a debt and the great love required for an innocent, Divine Being to take on humanity just to pay it. At a certain point, he turned to face the crucifix and beginning to speak, his voice nearly faltered as he was moved to tears in contemplating this mystery of our great sinfulness and God's greater love.

"When we come into the presence of the crucifix, it should knock the wind out of us. It should leave us speechless. The fact that it doesn't is both a challenge and hope." - Fr. David Konderla

Evening of Lights

Another moving event that occurred during the Octave of Easter (the first week of Easter) was the Evening of Lights. This was an event brought in by the FOCUS missionaries and put on by 2 Dominican Priests and 2 Sisters of Life sisters. The evening consisted of a special blessing and Eucharistic adoration and was held (drum roll please....) on campus! Isn't that awesome?! Just imagine this: in the all faith's chapel (where there is no tabernacle) on a Thursday evening a line a students - amidst a larger group kneeling, standing, or sitting - wait to receive a blessing with St. Joseph oil (from Canada) for personal healing and healing among their family before proceeding over to the other priest holding the Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance and giving personal benedictions (blessings with/by the Blessed Sacrament Himself). This went on for over 3 hours without pause. For those who already received their blessing or had not yet entered the line, there was beautiful praise and worship music as well as opportunity for intercessory prayer with the 2 Sisters of Life sisters, the FOCUS missionaries and the Apostles of the Interior Life sisters.
I myself was personally touched and my heart moved during this evening. My prayer and hope is that many other students experienced this as well.

Fr. Benedict holding the Blessed Sacrament.
Photo Creds to Sam White. Thanks!

My First Criticism (to my face)

On the same Monday that Chris and I experienced the beauty in walking up to strangers to speak about God, I met with my first open opposition towards my future plans.
It came from a former professor of mine who I organized a meeting with just to chat. I enjoyed his class last semester greatly and respect him as someone who is very interesting to talk to because of his philosophical and intellectual ideas and viewpoints. I knew that the topic would come up and although I was not sure where that would lead, I was not expecting it to go the way it did. However, my reaction was most surprising of all. While he was making his case for why I should not pursue this further, I could not contain the large smile that covered my face. In fact I never faced all that I had feared would come with this type of opposition (i.e. unanswerable questions, shouting, ridicule, humiliation, embarrassment, etc...). Instead, I experienced a deep sadness that he does not know the Jesus that I know and realized that the God that he professes not to believe in is in fact not the God that I believe in either. Mostly, I was hurt that he had a bad experience that drove him away from the arms of the only One who will ever fulfill the Truth that he seeks.
I know that his opposition comes from a place of caring about me and genuine concern for my best interests. However, it also comes with a difference in worldview and a disagreement on the definition of freedom.
I do not know if anything that I said brought him to a deeper understanding of the loving God that I believe in. I pray that it did. I also pray that I was open to the Spirit speaking through me. It gives me peace knowing that it is not me that does anything but rather Him who uses me as an instrument.
Oh God, give me a greater disposition of openness to being your instrument.

AVI Meet the Parents

Another exciting recent event was the Meet the Parents day at the Sisters' house here in College Station for all of the Texas girls' parents to spend the day with the Texas Sisters and the 3 brothers from the AVI Male Branch that were present here this week.
It was so beautiful to have these three sets of parents of the Texas girls all meet and exchange their different levels of experience as parents of girls in formation with the AVI. I particularly enjoyed speaking with the Browns whose daughter Brittany has been in the community for 3 years. It was beautiful to see how close they have grown to the community over the years. I also enjoyed seeing Briana's family again whom I had met a few times before. It is always such a joy to meet the parents of one of your best friends and see so much of her in them.
Fr. Vince gave a beautiful meditation on joy (an important aspect of the AVI charism), and the Sisters cooked a wonderfully Italian meal from the deliciously "al dente" pasta to the perfectly creamy homemade gelato.
It was a good day!

Encounter

On the same night as the AVI Meet the Parents day, I went to the 2nd ever (my 1st ever) Encounter held at Christ the Good Shepherd Chapel at St. Joseph's High School in Bryan. This new event consists of a talk, great music, and best of all precious time adoring our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. It was a beautiful way to spend the evening of a beautiful day.
I even met a few new people who run around in different B/CS Catholic circles which is always fun! I look forward to another opportunity to attend. For more information check out encounterbcs.org.

Muster

Ok Old Ags, you might find it hard to believe but even as a senior here at A&M, I just now attended my first Muster in Reed Arena. And I'll be the first to admit that I wish I had been going all along. What a beautiful tradition.
Alycia, my roommate and I, arrived quite early to ensure that we got good seats for us and our small group. While waiting we prayed a very distracted Rosary yet a beautiful one as we watched the names of all those on the world-wide muster roll call appeared on the screen. I had the joy of running into some friends I hadn't seen in a while and was marveled at the amount of Aggie Catholics my eyes kept coming across which made me feel all the more comfortable and at home there.
The event took on an even more special yet sobering tone as the name of my friend Karen Barnett was softly called and I answered "here" for her. It is one thing to participate in Muster by your attendance. It is another to participate with your "here".
It still feels unreal that Karen is actually gone but yet I have learned so much in these few weeks since her passing. I trust that she is in the eternal bliss promised by our Lord to those who love Him, and I have hope that we will one day bask in the light of that eternal embrace together.

"Softly call the Muster, let comrade answer 'Here'..."

Mr. and Mrs. Travis Klekar

Today my cousin got married to a beautiful girl that makes him smile in a way that I have never seen before. It is always a special thing to attend a wedding and see two flesh become one but even more so when you are witnessing the marriage of someone you grow up with. I have been through many things with Travis and many emotions moved through me today.

Today I did not witness my annoying older boy cousin get married. No, I witnessed a well-mannered, well-groomed, joy-filled, and charming young gentleman gently and attentively accept the hand in marriage of a beautiful young woman who clearly took his breath away the moment she stepped into the room. Today I was one among the few yet beloved members of the congregation who had the pleasure of intimate contact and conversation with both the bride and groom all afternoon/evening long. Today I FINALLY got a girl cousin on the Klekar side and man am I happy that it is Amanda!

Please join me in praying for this young couple that their dedication to God and dedication to each other only grows as the years go by. For blessings on their marriage and newly established family.

“So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” Mt. 19:6

...and that's about all I have to report for now. I know that I don't post much but know that many a blog-post idea comes to my mind. There just isn't enough time to develop all of them. Someday my rule of life might give this blog a higher priority but for now it will remain my hobby, my go-to on a free day. Thanks for reading!